hundreds of mourners, including first lady michelle obama, attended the funeral for 15-year-old idea pendleton in chicago yesterday. she was shot and killed late last month just days after she participated in president obama's inauguration ceremonies. former vice president dick cheney appears to have a dim view of the white house's new national security team. in a speech before republicans in wyoming last night mr. cheney charged that president obama is putting the nation at risk by appointing unqualified nominees. cheney said the white house is relying on too many, in his words "second rate people." the associated press reports that the board of american airlines' parent company is meeting tomorrow to decide whether to merge with u.s. airways. a merger would create one of the world's largest airlines. today is new year's day in china. fireworks lit up the sky in beijing overnight and singer celine dion performed to mark the start of the year of the snake. now today's weather. sunny and milder along the east and west coasts. but it will be a stormy day for most of the country. in the